Heel protector



July 14, 1959 v. E. SHAPIRO HEEL PROTECTOR Filed Nov. 5, 1958 United States Patent z,s9'4, ss9. ,1, I 1 HEEL rnornc'ron" vmanshamcnmm. Application November 6, 1953, Serial No. 712,349

1 Claim. (Cl. 36- -72) i pedal to anothermakes it impossible for a womanto use care in keeping the side of the heel of the shoe clear of the various parts of the car. Even though the rubber mat or carpeting of a car adjacent the brake or gas pedals is soft and yielding, nevertheless such parts collect dirt which becomes matted, have grit or pebbles. This provides many opportunities for scratching the side of the heel.

This invention provides a simple, economical and practical heel protector which will protect the heel against wear and tear while driving a car without impairing the full freedom of motion of the foot. The device may be easily applied to or removed from the heel or may be worn in an inoperative position and will not impede the wearer even if retained on the heel for short excursions outside of the car. The heel protector is simple enough so that the application to the heel or removal therefrom is effected in an exceedingly simple manner.

The new heel protector is small enough so that it may be readily stored in the car in any desired spot or may be kept in the handbag of the user. The simplicity of the new construction is such that it may 'be manufactured and sold in large quantities for a comparatively small price. It is possible to put the item out in various colors so that the wearer may select a desired color from a number of heel protectors in her possession.

Other advantages of the invention will become apparent after the same has been described.

In connection with the description of the invention, reference will now be made to the drawings wherein Figure l is a perspective view of a heel protector embodying the present invention in position on the heel of a womans shoe, the shoe being illustrated as worn by a woman driver with the shoe resting upon an inclined surface which may be a gas pedal or a brake pedal.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the heel protector removed from the heel.

Figure 3 is a view of the protector blank.

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of the heel protector on a heel, as illustrated in Figure l.

The heel protector comprises generally fan-shaped body 10 the bottom of which is curled around and joined as by sewing, clips or snaps at 11 to provide a pocket generally indicated by 12.

Pocket 12 is closed at the bottom by portion 13 of the body of the heel protector.

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As illustrated in Figure 3, the blank itself, prior to stitching, has tapering sides 15 and 16 and straight portion 17 at the bottom. Fan-shaped body portion 10 has curved edge 19.

The heel protector. blank illustrated in Figure 3 may be made of any soft flexible material such as, for example, a textile fabric. The fabric may be woven or knitted and is preferably stitched along edges 15, 19 and 16 to form a pocket having mouth 17. Into the pocket may be slipped a sheet of sponge material 21 of rubber, or the like. Mouth 17 of the pocket may be stitched together to close the same.

Sides 15 and 16 are folded together, as illustrated in Figure 2, and the edges are stitched together as illustrated at 11, for a short distance. This distance is not importantand as a rule will be of the order ofbetween about one-half inch and one inch. However, this figure is exemplary and will vary depending upon the type of heel for which the protector is designed. It is not necessary to tailor the heel protector accurately to a heel since the material and sponge filling are both sufliciently flexible so that there is considerable give.

Attached to top edge 19 at two spaced regions, such as 23 and 24, are the ends of elastic strip 25. Strip 25 is long enough and flexible enough so that the foot may be inserted through the'loop with the elastic stripv extending around the ankle of the foot. Strip 25 may be divided into two parts which may be tied or fastened together if a closed loop is not desirable.

Disposed in the bottom of pocket 12 of the heel protector is heel plate 26 preferably of material which is stiffer and harder than sponge material 21. Heel plate 26 may consist of a thin strip of mat rubber which is hard enough and stiff enough to take the wear of the heel bottom and protect the soft heel protector material from being cut. Heel plate 26 may be loose or may be ccmented within said pocket.

It is essential that inside layer 28 of the heel protector, which may normally engage the side of the heel, be soft enough to avoid scratching the heel. The outer surface of said protector need not necessarily be of the same soft material although if the heel protector is to be kept in a handbag, it is desirable that the said heel protector be readily foldable and free from tendency to scratch.

Instead of cementing or joining opposing edges to form a seam, as illustrated at 11 in Figure 2, it is possible to connect the spaced edges by a short ribbon or strip. It is necessary that the bottom of the heel protector be retained in proper position by some portion thereof engaging the front side of the heel, this being the side where joint 11 normally would be. The pocket construction disclosed is preferred for the reason that the pocket is completely closed from the bottom up for a short distance and prevents dirt and pebbles from working therein. This would not be true if the pocket were open.

The heel protector is applied by passing the toe through elastic strap 25 and thereafter pulling the heel protector into position over the heel. The wearer can pull the heel protector from the heel and run the strap up along the leg for a short distance in order to temporarily retain the heel protector while leaving the heel free. This would be desirable in case the woman desires to do some shopping.

As is clear from Figure 1, the heel protector protects the side of the heel completely if the toe is raised clear of a pedal so that the heel side might normally rest against the floor of the car. By having the body of the heel protector snugly engage the side of the heel, the possi bility of the edge of the heel protector catching at the edge of a heel is eliminated.

It is understood that while the heel protector embodying the present invention provides protection for a heel of: the shoe, the very top. portion of the heel protector between egions, 23 and, 214' of Figure 2 will extend above the top of the shoe heel and provide full protection for the back of a shoe or if the shoe is of the open variety then protection will: be, provided for the heel; portion. of the stocking. It is therefore to be understood that the heel protector construction as, hereinafter claimed, may include an extra portion as illustrated in Figure 2 for providing. protection above the top of the. heel of the shoe.

Whatis claimed is;

A heel protector for a womans shoe adapted to be worn to prevent scuffing of the exterior rear surfaces of the heel and. the counter of the shoe adjacent the heel while operating a vehicle, said protector comprising a unitary assemblage of a pair of textile fabric members and a resilient pad member secured, between said fabric members, said assemblage being of exaggerated fanshaped configuration having a bottom edge, an arcuate upper edge curved toward, said bottom edge and a pair of lateral edges conjoining said upper and bottom edges at opposed extremities thereof and convergent toward said. bottom edge, said assemblage being folded longitudinally with said lateral edges abutting one the other, said lateral edges being sewn together to form a tubular pocket having top and bottom edges and its axis parallel with the longitudinal axis of the protector, portions of said bottom edge being juxtaposed and sewn together to close off the bottom end of the pocket, a rigid heel plate disposed in said bottom end of the pocket,

the top end of the pocket being open and substantially wa e below he a lislrsiat 9 aid situa sd evhersbr to provide an imperforate frusto-conical a'rcuate segment of the assemblage extending upwardly beyond the open end of the pocket, elastic means secured between spaced apart points adjacent said arcuate edge and adapted to be engaged around the ankle of the wearer for securing the protector in operative position with said arcuate segment engaged around'sai'd exterior surfaces of the heel and portions of ccgrrrite r, the length of the said pocket being substantially less than the entire length of the protector so as to permit 'siicho'per'ative positioning of the q sct r, n. any 29. ct a smeltr t h art Sizes of which range between high and low heels. i

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS ,62 ,401 Smock a 2- 1,7o8;9164 Boome Apr. 16;, [9.29 Larges; Ma erock C--' -'-'----Au I I 31? 1,855,304 Minton' Apr. 25, 123; 1,945,420 Charles Jan. 310, 1934' 1,955,159 Wing'et Apr; 17,1934 2552;026 Johnson May 8, 1951 2,763,938, Kays' an; se t .'25; s

RE N MTENT 6 2 97 e m n ly 11, 93.6 

